Introduction

Treasure trails and scavenger hunts are no longer just a fun children’s activity or limited to Pirates searching the Seven Seas.

Treasure hunts of the 21st century have evolved and are finding new ways to engage adults and children alike, allowing participants to live out their best Sherlock Holmes or Goonies fantasies.

This post will explain step-by-step how to create a treasure trail using Klu. 

While you’re here, check out our post on Treasure Trail ideas.

Bjorn Pierre, 2022, via Unsplash

TV-Gold

As well as being fun for all, treasure hunts have become an exciting way for businesses and the entertainment industry to engage with audiences in a way they have never been able to before.

Back in 2019 HBO hid 6 Iron Thrones around the world to promote the final season of Game of Thrones, and in August 2022 Adult Swim announced a Rick and Morty ‘living episode’ that would see players follow clues to find space worms around the world before they destroy the planet.

Klu Marks the spot

Follow this step-by-step guide to create your treasure trail with Klu

1. Plan the locations

Choose where you want your Klues to lead to.

Although we love to connect the digital and physical worlds, why not consider making an entirely digital trail?

Your Klues could lead treasure-hunters to websites, Youtube videos or even songs on Spotify.

2. Create Klues for each location: image, video etc

The next step is to actually create the Klues that will send treasure-trailers to the next location. A step-by-step guide on how to use the app can be found here.

There are so many options for what media you could attach to your Klues.

Perhaps you want to attach a video of someone reading a riddle?

Or an image you have to figure out the location of?

What about a blank video with just a sound from the location?

Don’t forget you can add a link to a Klu as well, so the possibilities really are endless!

3. Download and print your Klues to place at locations

Once you have created your Klues, don’t forget to download and print them to leave at your locations.

You can be creative with this and try to hide or obscure the Klue from plain-site.

Perhaps your Klue will tell hunters how many steps to take, or hint at what part of the location to look for the next Klue in.

4. Map

If you are doing a physical treasure hunt, it’s worth considering having a printed map of the area the locations are based: that way it will stop people straying off the trail!

This can then be used by trailers to keep a record of where they’ve been, and gives you another opportunity to be creative.

Maybe the locations make a picture or spell out a letter or word when drawn on the map, to make one final clue.

@ellladee, 2016, via Unsplash

5. Enjoy!

Enjoy making and following your treasure trail!

Think about what the end result of the trail will be: is it more of a scavenger hunt where people find items or places as they go, or is the pay off finding some treasure or prize at the end?

Conclusion

There are many ways this step-by-step guide can by adapted to your needs, it’s so simple to create a treasure trail you are sure to be hooked.

Don’t forget to check out our post of Treasure trail ideas, or our post about using Klu for Geocaching.